Conveying apparatus.



(No Model.)

J. T. COWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1895.)

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Patented Dec. 26, I899.

7 Sheets-Sheet i.

N0. 640,I0|. Patented Dec. 26, 1899'. J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apia-25, 1895.)

(No Model.)

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Patented Dec. 26, I899.

Nu. 640,10l.

J. T. CUWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1895.) 6/5 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model!) UN REM THE NORRIS vrrzn s 00.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON u. c.

Patented 'Dec. 26, 1899.

J. T. COWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1895.)

7 Sheets-Sheet. 4.,

(No Model.)

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Patnted Dec. 26, I899.

.1. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

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Patented Dec. 26, I899.

J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1895.) (No Model.) 7 Sheefs.$heet 6.

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No. 640,101; Patented Dec. 26, I899.

- .1. T.: COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1895.)

(No Mddel.) 1 sheets-sheet 7.

avihwooeo NHED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEYV JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,101, dated December 26, 1899.

Application filed April 251 1895. Serial No, 547,065. (No model.)

To all Mil/07771 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Lowell, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oonveying'Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and usefulimprovernents in conveying apparatus in which the tracks on which the carriers are adapted to travel are located above the salesman and suitable elevating devices are provided at the salesmans station to raise and lower the carriers to and from the tracks.

My invention consists of certain novel features, arrangements, and combinations hereinai'ter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings whichillustrateaconstruction embodying my invention, Figure 1 represents a perspective side elevation of the tracks and elevator, taken at one of the stations along the line. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing a plan of the upper main and branch tracks. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lower main and branch tracks. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the carrier and elevator. Fig. dis aplan View of the elevator-carriage. Fig. 5isa side elevation of one of the stations along the line,

showingthe elevator-carriage dotted in alinement with the upper branch tracks in position to forward the carrier along the branch tracks onto the main forwardingtracks leading to the receiving-station. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the elevatorcarriage dotted in alinement with the lower branch tracks and in position to receive the carrier returning from the receiving-station to the station to which it belongs. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, showing the track-supporting frame and the elevator, the latterbeingin a lowered position. Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the elevator in fulland dotted lines in several difierent positions. Fig. 8 is a partial sectional View of the tracks and carrier-retaining device, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section,

showing the elevator and the carriage mounted thereon. Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the under side of the carrier. Fig. 11 is a transverse "vertical section of the carrier. Fig. 12 is a portion of the lower tracks, showing the lower branch tracks and carrierswitching device.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the conveying apparatus hereinafter described, A represents the main forwardingtracks passing by the various branch stations and leading to the receiving end of the main line, and at each station suitable upper branch tracks A lead to the said main forwardingtracks from the respective stations, and a suitable upper guide-rail A is provided, against which the upper end of the carrier contacts to steady it in its movements along the main 7o forwarding-tracks.

A represents a suitable guide-rail for the same purpose located above the branch tracks A as the carrier travels onto said branch tracks.

B represents main return-tracks leading from the respective stations past the various stations, and B represents branch tracks leading from the main return-tracks to the various stations,and B represents an upper guiderail for the lower main trackswhich is adapted to steady the carrier as it travels along said main return-tracks, and B represents a suitable guide-rail for the same purpose located above the branch tracks B as the carrier travels onto said branch tracks.

At suitable distances apart are located brackets O in the walls 0, by means of which brackets O the tracks are supported and held rigid in their various positions.

0 represents cross-brackets fastened to the brackets 0, upon which the tracks A and B and guide-rail B are supported. (See Figs.

1 and 6.)

O and C re present suitable braces connect- 9 5 ed to and supporting the main return-tracks and branch tracks therefrom, Fig. 1.

0 represents a brace connecting the branch tracks A and the guide-rail B 0 is a brace connecting the two main tracks 10 o' A together.

D represents a bracket placed at each station and connecting the main forwarding and return tracks and the forwarding and return branch tracks together, Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7, and '7, and also the guide-rails A and B and A and B This bracket consists of a central rod D, upon which is mounted the arm D which supports the lower main tracks B, and the arm D which supports the lower branch tracks B, and also there is supported on said rod upper arms D and D which support the main tracks A and the branch tracks A, and through the outer ends of these arms D and D pass the rods D which are bent at right angles at the top and fastened to the rod I) by suitable hubs. The cross-bar D connected to the rods D and D supports one end of the guide-rail 13 On each end of the rod D are fastened suitable brackets E and E, which extend outwardly and are connected to the standard F and elevator guide-rods F, which pass through suitable hubs in said brackets E and E and are firmly secured thereto.

Referring now to Fig. 3, G represents an elevator-carriage by which the carriers are lowered from the branch retu rn-tracks within reach of the operator and also raised to the upper forwarding branch tracks to be sent to the receiving'station. This carriage is formed by two brackets G, which slide upon the rods F and are guided by the rollers G on said brackets. These brackets are connected together by the jointed braces G and G and upon the branch tracks A to the main forwarding-track.

G is a guide-rail placed above the track G and supported by the brackets G and G Figs. 3 and 4. This guide-rail G is designed to receive the carrier and hold it in position upon the track G.

G is a center cross-brace secured tothe tracks G G represents two rods sliding at one end in the supports G, secured to the tracks G and at the other end connected to links G which in turn are connected to the arms G mounted upon the shaft G supported in the bearings G attached to the bracket G.

G is an upwardly-extending finger adapted to be engaged by the forward axle of the carrier when it passes onto the elevator-carriage.

G represents a spring one end of which engages with the finger G and the opposite end, extending outwardly, is fastened to the bracket G. The object of this spring is to keep the finger G and rods G in position shown in Fig. 4 when the carrier J is not in position on the track G Stops G on the rods G by contacting with the supports G limit the forward movement of the said rods. These rods G projecting outwardly through the supports G engage suitable pins 13 on the branch tracks B (see Fig. 1) when the carrier is not on the elevator-carriage; but when the carrier passes onto the elevator-carriage from the branch tracks B the forward axle of the carrier engages the finger G and pushes it backward, which carries with it the rods G and pulls the rods G connected to the shaft G off from the supporting-pins B in the branch tracks B, and thus allows the elevator-carriage and the carrier to lower down on the standards F within reach of the operator. Mounted in the tracks G on the elevator-carriage is a rod G bent at right angles and having fixed thereon at right angles thereto a sleeve G through which passes the rod G This rod G is bent downwardly at G to form the end over which the forward axle J 2 of the carrier passes when the rod G is raised by the action of the spring G Figs. I

4 and 9, and the carrier is thus retained on the elevator-carriage.

G is a pivoted frame mounted upon the pin G and provided with a spring G and stop-pin G In the end of the frame G" is mounted a friction-roller G for the purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The operating-cord H passes through the apertured lug H, projecting from the lower part of one of the brackets G of the elevatorcarriagc, over the pulley H under the pulley H over the pulleys H, under the pulley H over the pulley H and is secured to the lug H on the other bracket G of the elevator carriage. Below the lug H the cord is provided with a handle H By means of this cord the elevator-carriage can be raised and lowered.

J represents the carrier, provided with wheels J, mounted upon the front and rear axles J j The carrier on its under side is provided with a suitable gripping device consisting of suitable jaws J 3 and provided with downwardly-extending fingers J adapted to receive and grip the cable X, carried by the pulleys R journaled in the arms D The jaws J are provided with slots J, in which work the pins .1, mounted upon the gripoperating lever J The carrier is provided with the switching-lug J mounted upon one of the axles J 2 of the carrier, and said lug is adapted to engage with the switch-guide 0, (shown in Figs. 11 and 12,) and these guides are arranged in diiferent lateral positions at the dilferent stations and the lugs on the several carriers at correspondingly different positions on said carriers by which the carrier belonging to a certain station can be switched to the station to which it belongs.

J represents suitable rollers on the top of the carrier, which engage with the upper guide-rails A B A B K is a catch mounted on one of the eleva ICC shaft K Fig. 1, which is journaled in the tracks A. Mounted on this shaft and proj ecting upwardly between the rails of the track A is a finger K in position to be struck by the lug J on the axle J of the carrier J. On the shaft K is a spring K that acts on said shaft and through the rod K normally holds .the catch K in a position to engage with the elevator-carriage. The action of the spring is limited by the catch K engaging with the pin K projecting from the guide-rod F, on which the catch is pivoted. Mounted also upon this shaft K is a cam-shaped catch K Upon the shaft K extending between the two branch tracks A, is mounted a hub, through which extends the catch K. This catch is held downwardly by the action of the spring K in position to engage with the catch K on the shaft K Extending downwardly from the catch K is a rod K attached to the lever K mounted upon the top guiderail B When the elevator-carriage, with the carrier, is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the catch K engages with the flange G on the elevator-carriage and retains it in a raised position. The bent portion of the rod G Fig. 4, engages with the pin F on the rod F, Fig. 5, and rotates the rod G, which carries with it the catch G 'and lowers down the end G out of contact with the axle of the carrier, which allows the carrier to pass by gravity onto the upper branch tracks A. As the carrier passes onto the upper branch tracks A the lug J on the axle of the carrier engages with the finger K on the shaft K and pushes it forward and through the connecting-rod K and catch K releases the elevator-carriage and allows it to lower to alinement with the lower tracks, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6, and in this position the ends of the rods G Fig. 4, rest upon the pins B in the lower branch tracks B, Fig. 1. As the carrier pushes the finger K forward the catch K on the shaft K" engages with the catch K on the shaft K and holds it in position (shown in Fig. 6) against the action of spring K and thereby holds the catch K clear of the elevator-carriage. The carrier will then continue by gravity down the branch tracks A onto the main tracks A, when the grip-operating lever J 7 by passing under the cam-shaped guide 0 supported by the bracket 0 will be operated to lower and open the jaws J 4 to receive the cable X, and the carrier will be conveyed along the line by the cable X toward the receiving-station.

Now, supposing the carrier has been sent to the receiving-station on the main forwardingtrack and has been returned along the main return-track B and has been switched at the station shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6 and on passing onto the branch tracks B the grip-operating lever J will pass under the disengagingcam 0, supported by the bracket 0 to disengage the cable X from the carrier-jaws J ,and the carrier will continue by momentum onto the branch tracks 13 and along the same toward the station to which it belongs, in its passage along the branch tracks B the carrier engages with the lever K and through the connecting-rod K releases the catch K from the catch K and thereby the spring K is allowed to act to throw the catch K into a position to engage with the elevator-carriage. If the elevator-carriage is not in position to receive the carrier from the branch tracks B, Figs. 1 and 5, the forward axle J of the carrier will engage with the catch P mounted on the shaft P journaled in the branch tracks B, and the carrier will thus be retained upon the branch tracks 13; but when the elevatorcarriage is in alineme'nt to receive the carrier from the branch tracks B the friction-roll G mounted in the frame G of the elevatorcarriage,will engage with the cam P,mounted on the end of the'rod P, and push the rod P backward to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 6. This rod carries with it the lever P, which is mounted on the end of the shaft P upon which the catch P is fastened, and by this backward movement of the rod P the catch P is lowered to the dotted posi tion shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The carrier is then free to pass onto the elevator-carriage,

and by the movement before described as to the finger G shaft G and rod G the elevator-carriage is released and allowed to descend within reach of the operator.

As all the carriers are disengaged from the propelling-cable X at the trip 0, Fig. 5, and only certain carriers are to pass into the said station, it is necessary to again engage the carriers passing to stations beyond with the propelling-cable X after they have passed the junction of the tracks B and branch tracks B. This reengagement of the carrier and propelling-cable X is made by the grip-operating lever J 7 on the carrier J passing under the cam-engaging trip 0 mounted on the bracket 0 which lowers down the grip-engaging lever J and opens the jaws J on the carrier in position to receive the propelling cable.

To prevent the collision of a carrier passing along the main tracks A with a carrier passing along the branch tracks A onto the main tracks A, at each station is provided a rod T, supported by brackets T, fastened to a rod T This rod T is journaled in the lugs T fastened to the side of one of the tracks A. The ends of this rod T are curved outwardly, so that the carrier passing along the tracks A will engage with the rod and move it outwardly against the tension of the spring T to the position shown by dotted foo lines, Fig. 8. After the carrier has passed the said rod T the spring T will again carry the rod T back to its original position. On one end of the rod T is mounted an arm T Figs. 1, 7, 7, and 8, to the end of which is fastened the connecting-rod T The upper end of this rod T is fastened to an arm T journaled at T in a lug upon the rod F. The 'end T of this rod T projects outwardly in position to engage with the carrier J and hold it upon the elevator-carriage G when another carrier is passing along the tracks A and is in engagement with the rod T. After this carrier has passed along the tracks A out of engagement with the rod T and the spring T has carried the rod T back to its original position (shown in full lines, Fig. 8) through the connection of the rod T and arm T the end T will be lowered out of contact with the carrier, and the carrier will be allowed to pass onto the forwarding branch tracks A, and hence to the main tracks A. By this mechanism the carrier is retained upon the elevator-carriage until the carrier passing along the main line has passed beyond the station a sufficient distance to prevent a collision with the carrier passing along the branch tracks A onto the main tracks.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a conveying apparatus, a forwarding and return track, a carrier adapted to travel on said tracks, an elevator adapted to move said carrier into and out of alinement with said tracks and consisting of two brackets connected together so that one of said brackets can be moved to a limited degree independently of the other, tracks mounted on said brackets, and means for tilting said elevator.

2. In a conveying apparatus, a forwarding and a return track, a carrier adapted to travel on said tracks, an elevator adapted to move said carrier into and out of alinement with said tracks and consisting of two brackets, a link pivoted to and joining said brackets, tracks mounted on said brackets, and means for tilting said elevator.

3. In a conveying apparatus, a forwarding and a return track, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks, an elevator adapted to move the carriers into and out of alinement with said tracks, a catch for retaining the said ele vator-carriage' in alinementwith the forwarding-tracks, means connected with said catch located in the path of the carriers on the forwarding-track and adapted to move and retain said catch out of its locking position, whereby the said elevator is released from its alinement with the forwarding-track, and means connected with said catch located in the path of the carriers on the return-track adapted to be actuated by the momentum of the same, whereby the catch is released and returns to its normal position to engage the elevator when the same is raised into aline= ment with the forwarding-track.

4:. In a conveying apparatus, a forwarding and a return track, a carrier adapted to travel on said tracks, an elevator adapted to move said carrier into and out of alinement with said tracks and consisting of two brackets, a link pivoted to and joining said brackets, tracks pivotally secured to said brackets, and means for tilting said elevator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 12th day of April, A. D. 1895.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses:

E. L. HARLOW, L. H. TROW. 

